Believe me, I didn’t understand it either for the longest time. But one day it clicked, and birds have been singing around my head ever since.

Anyway. I say I’m addicted to bokeh, but I guess what I’m really addicted to is keeping my aperture set to 1.4, which, with my 50 mm lens, is the widest setting.

If my aperture hadn’t been set to 1.4 when I took this photo, it would look a lot different. The corn starch box in the back would have been more in focus and the photo would have lost this ethereal quality. As it is, I like photos where just a small subject is in focus. It’s more emotional to me.

Here’s another example. Whew. Notice how the margins of Bakerella’s fondant are starting to get fuzzy. And I realize some would argue that this is a little much. That I needed to up the aperture number to 2.2 or even 3.0 to make the subject a little more crisp and clear.

But my name is Ree. And I’m addicted to bokeh.

But there is a downside to keeping your aperture chronically set on 1.4.

There is a big downside.

When you have a guest visiting and you’re busy cooking with her and you realize you need to get a photo of the two of you together so you hand your big strapping cowboy of a husband your camera, and your aperture is not only set on 1.4, but the focal point is set a little to the left so you could get the focus of Bakerella’s fondant just right…

THAT’S when it becomes a little inconvenient.

At least the candlesticks are crisp and clear!

I’ve always LOVED those candlesticks. And now I have them captured for eternity.

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Comments

HOW can you be so skinny??? You guys are adorable, even in fuzzy view. 🙂

Martha Sue

You are a great teacher…

Isabel

The candles are nice

Renee

Blurry or not – it’s a great picture..

Casey Barnhard

I’m going to have to try it–first I must read my Photoshop for Dummies book! You 2 are so cute!

http://www.flickr.com/purplemustang Melissa King

I LOVE BOKEH! And my 50, I only have a 1.8 though.

http://thelabunskis.blogspot.org Lindy

Thank you SOOOOOOO much for those tutorials! They were so easy to follow and yet didn’t sound like you were talking to a 5 year old. And they got me back on my feet, so to speak, with my photography. I use to have a huge passion for photography back in college, but never taught myself how to shoot manually. But you helped me break that trend, and now I’m back in love with my D70 again! You rock!

http://dvmswife.blogspot.com DVMsWife

I a bokehalic addict as well.
I love what it does for pictures. Everyone asks me how I get that blurry background, if I do that in Photoshop. Nope, its all about bokeh baby, and my Nikon…………..

http://mycozybooknook.com Molly

I am learning so much about photography from your visual lessons. Perhaps some day I will graduate from my point and shoot to a “real” camera.

Rachel

bokeh-aholic here too. so sad about the picture – Ive done that before!!! 🙁 you are still gorgeous, even blurry!!!!

Sheri O.

Looks like you two were having fun – even through the fuzzy haze!
And now you’ll have to remember exactly where you got those candlesticks from, because everyone will want to know!
Looking forward to more pics!

http://www.bluelimephoto.com meg manion silliker

see you at the B.A. meeting!!

http://www.birdswordsandotherthings.blogspot emtcharlotte

Ree, you silly girl. Of course the candlesticks were the subject and that is why they are in focus.
Thanks for the tutorial on the aperture. My light ain’t on yet, but someone is home.

http://hannapalooza.blogspot.com Deb

too funny! I have many pictures with the same outcome. I am so jealous, wish I could be there too!

Cindy

It’s good to see you’re human too (LOL)! At least you’ll have the memories 🙂

I’m looking forward to seeing some instructions for all those goodies.

Cheers,

Cindy

Laura S

I’m with you – I like to keep my 50mm on 1.8 or around there – sometimes I forget and think I’m gonna get a great shot of my man, but I get a great shot of his nose or something and the rest is blurry.

http://throughtheeyesofthecreator.blogspot.com Samara

Too bad. That would have been the cutest picture of y’all! Still, love the candlesticks–I think the candlesticks deserved this recognition.

Gonna have to learn some of this technical stuff for my camera. THanks!